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The Steel I-Beam Arrives

December 9, 2013 By Doug Francis

Fourth in the 2014 Vienna House Project Series

Craftsman Home Vienna VA

Steel carries the load!

It is exciting when the steel arrives at a new house.

This is typical construction here in Vienna VA real estate construction to have a series of I-beams (some may say a W-beam) carry the load of the joists in the house. The steel fits into designed pockets in the concrete foundation and are supported by steel columns which stand on concrete footers in the floor of the basement. It’s all according to plan where these baby’s are going to go, so, if you are working with an architect on your new custom home then remember to make sure the columns aren’t in the middle of your cool new billiard room.

engineered joistWhen we are finished with this house, come back to this blog post and take a look at these photos (or see the photo story on Google).

The steel beams will be placed into the pockets in the concrete foundation and then attached to the steel support columns. Once these are properly bolted together and joined, the engineered wood joists will be laid in place. A band-board goes around the top of the foundation enclosing the joists.

These joists are designed to carry extreme loads over long spans and 99% of builders in Vienna use them. This technology allows modern homes to have those wide open spaces.

Carpenters prepare joists and deckingIt always amazes me when the “framers” show up and start to stick-build the house. Their work pace is rapid as they follow a carefully scripted plan of laying in the steel, adding the joists and then starting to frame the first floor walls. Although the tools and engineered material they use is high-tech, everything is still laid in place by hand after some onsite measuring and then secured together.

joists lay on steel I-Beam

Joist meet at steel I-beam

Most home building is still done on site, by hand, with a ton of sweat!

Now, as I may have mentioned before, my clients are relocating to Vienna so they aren’t here to check on things. And that’s actually how I got the idea for this construction series because I was sending them photos with brief descriptions. Since they thought it was cool seeing the progress that’s when I asked if it was okay to blog about it. What do you think?

basement in Vienna custom home

Starting to look like a room

The rest is history

In the end this won’t be another craftsman style home, but a custom home that will appeal to the market with a timeless look.

Over the next couple of blog posts you are going to see this house really take shape and look… look like a house! And over the next few months I will cover the inside finishing details and much more.

And, if I am missing something, then ask!


See More Photos!

Are you interested in seeing more photos on Google? As the project continues I am updating a Google page with a ton of photos so take a look to see where everything started and where the project is today.

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Filed Under: Blog, House Project 2014 Tagged With: real estate, Vienna Virginia

About Doug Francis

A Realtor specializing in unique and new homes around Vienna, Virginia, Doug started writing a first-hand blog about his everyday real estate experiences a decade ago. In-depth, helpful and fun has always been the objective. Outside real estate, he was profiled in a commercial for Verisign's "Where the World Clicks" global ad campaign, and was quoted in Money Magazine's Best Places to Live article on Vienna (#3!). He's a Boston University graduate who feels morning coffee is non-negotiable.

Vienna real estate agent Doug Francis

Helping my clients add value to their homes has always been important to me. My step-by-step recommendations are intended to increase market appeal, return more than invested, and help net more when selling.

Beyond just sellers, I have helped many new homeowners make smart design decisions when remodeling. We gutted our house and totally remodeled it, and I pass that experience along because living in a nice house is simply better.

My background… I’ve been an active licensed agent in Virginia for 25 years, work at TTR Sotheby’s International Realty in McLean, and sell homes in all price ranges. I donate to the Town of Vienna tree replacement fund, participate in a neighborhood citizens association, and try my best to stay in shape.

Questions? Email doug@dougfrancis.com or call me at (703) 304-6827 to discuss your plans. Cheers!

Filmed in Vienna and McLean

https://youtu.be/ClqEIV1zoQg

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About Doug Francis

I am a Realtor with TTR Sotheby's International Realty® just outside Washington D.C. in Northern Virginia. I have been a full-time Realtor licensed in Virginia since 1991, and cover a big territory specializing in the Vienna real estate market and custom homes for sale.

I have unique knowledge of digital real estate marketing, and my marketing starts here. My clients have been attracted to my results-oriented strategy for years, and I am accepting new clients for 2023 right now.

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6723 Whittier Avenue McLean, VA 22101

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